Soccer Topics

FIFA executive committee member Kozo Tashima announced on Monday that he will run for the Japan Football Association presidency. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Tashima said. “Everything I’ve said over the last 10 years I hope to stand by.” Tashima, 58, ...

Japan ended its 2015 season with a 2-0 win over Cambodia in a World Cup second-round qualifier on Tuesday that saw it retain the Group E lead. Keisuke Honda came off the bench in the second half to net in his fifth successive game ...

Mu Kanazaki marked his return from the international wilderness with his first national team goal as Japan whipped Singapore 3-0 on Thursday in a second-round Asian qualifier for the 2018 World Cup. Kanazaki opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a fine effort and ...

Vahid Halilhodzic will be looking for some attacking spark when revenge-minded Japan faces Singapore away on Thursday in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in the Asian second-round Group E. Halilhodzic’s men were held to an embarrassing 0-0 draw in their opening match at home ...

Gamba Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi has pulled out of Japan’s squad for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Singapore and Cambodia due to injury, the Japan Football Association said on Saturday. Higashiguchi hurt his right knee in Gamba’s 2-0 defeat at home to ...

Kashima Antlers striker Mu Kanazaki earned his first national call-up in five years as Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic on Thursday named his squad for the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers away to Singapore and Cambodia. Sagan Tosu goalkeeper Akihiro Hayashi and FC Tokyo defender ...

Keisuke Honda has issued Japan with a must-do-better report despite a 3-0 win over Syria in a key 2018 World Cup qualifier in neutral Oman on Thursday night. Japan struggled to break down Syria in the first half, but Honda put his team ahead ...

Japan swept past Syria 3-0 in neutral Oman on Thursday to seize top spot in second-round Group E in Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Keisuke Honda converted from the penalty spot in the 55th minute to give Japan the lead ...

On a night of big games in Asia, Japan will be under the most pressure, as a defeat to Syria in its 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday would cast doubt on the team’s chances of making it to Russia. Only the eight group ...

Salzburg striker Takumi Minamino won his first senior national team call-up under Vahid Halilhodzic as the Japan coach named his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Syria. AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda and Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa were included in the 23-man squad as ...

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa and Leicester City hitman Shinji Okazaki both scored twice as Japan destroyed Afghanistan 6-0 on Tuesday to pick up its second win in Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Masato Morishige and Keisuke Honda were also ...

Japan may take to the field in a neutral venue in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, but with millions of displaced Afghanis living in Iran, Vahid Halilhodzic’s team will still expect a hostile reception. Around 80,000 Afghanistan fans packed into ...